FIRST FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME

Start Date:2008-05-03  End Date: 2008-06-11

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SCMI National Level Leadership Training Camp

 

The First National Level Leadership Training Camp for the SCMI Fellowship Holders was held from 3^rd to 11^th May, 2008 at Tamilnadu Theological Seminary, Madurai on the theme ‘Transforming the Youth in the midst of Globalization.’ The participants were from 6 different regions comprising around 60 students who also had a practical exposure to 4 Dalit villages.

 

The camp started with an Inaugural worship led by Ms. Ibatista Shylla and Mr. Inbaraj Jeyakumar, Study Secretaries of the SCMI Fellowship Desk followed by short reflections from the Fellowship holders.

 

While delivering his keynote address, Bishop M. Azariah urged the participants to be the change makers even in midst of social disapproval and he concludes with the word, “Think globally acts locally”. Later the participants were divided into different committee’s for better co-ordination of the camping days. Bible Studies were led by Rev. Dr. Gnanavaram Dr. Dhyanchand Carr and Ms. Prasuna Gnana, from the book of Revelation 18, Psalms 98; 147:7-11 and Luke 15:8-10. These studies were a great challenge for the students to transform self in the changing world.

 

A session on self exploration was conducted by Mr. Samuel Jayakumar, the General Secretary of SCMI which is related to real identities. Presenting very creatively, all the participants actively participated in this session by drawing a symbol along with their names on a piece of paper to identify themselves. Later the participants were asked to make a visiting card for self for better identification. He put a question forward to the participants whether the identity of being an Indian or Dalit/Tribal has been imposed or self-proclaimed? Reminding them, he urged that to have one’s identity is important while also acknowledging the multiple identities which are the Indian reality. 

 

A workshop on Understanding Indian Society was presented by Rev. Jayaharan giving his stress on, why? The villains in the movie which emphasize that slums are the breeding grounds for crimes, he contrasted that in real life a neat, clean wearing cloths are the villains who try to act as the brokers and exploit the common people. The prevailing situation in our Society is that “Innocent behind the bars and criminals lurking around in open.” Taking the example of Binayak Sen (a medical Doctor by profession) accused of being connected with the extremist though he protested for the rights of the oppressed.

 

Apart from the lectures, there were case studies and discussions on issues like ‘Religious fundamentalism’ led by Rev. John Abithananthar, ‘Gender issues’ by Dr. Margaret Kalaiselvi and ‘The impact of Globalization’ by Dr. I. Mohan Razu. All these case studies were an eye opener for the participants which benefited them immensely. The workshop on ‘Leadership Skills’ was led by Dr. Bennett Benjamin. He urged the participants that as a leader one should know the situation to transform and prepare for transition in life.

 

The main focus of this camp was to develop leadership skills and perspective among the students from the Dalit and the Tribal background. This particular camp has been a real challenge for the participants. The fellowships, interactions and sharing became the main diet to develop themselves. The sessions, group discussions and exposures have moulded their minds and perspectives to see and understand the reality with their own eyes. They were also nurtured with the spiritual food through re-reading the Bible from the perspectives of women, the oppressed and the marginalized.

 

 

Ms. Ibatista Shylla & Mr. Inbaraj Jeyakumar

Study Secretaries, Fellowship Desk